'Shanghai Sweet-Beauty', a new strawberry cultivar with high quality and powdery mildew resistance

Abstract:‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'is a new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) cultivar and was selected from a seedling cultivation field in 2008 from the progeny of a cross between‘AMAOU'and‘Akihime'made in 2006. Both of them were used as parents mainly because of its powdery mildew resistance and good fruit quality.‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'was evaluated for nine years (2008 to 2017) in trails in Shanghai and other regions of southeastern China. The most extensive testing was done in Shanghai, where‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'was planted in replicated trials with‘AMAOU'and‘Akihime'as control cultivars. From 2008 to 2017, three 20-plant plots were established each year in midSeptember in a randomized complete block design.‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'plants are moderately vigous, larger, and compact. The plants have a mean height of 118.5 mm and a mean canopy diameter of675 mm. The leaves of‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'are coriaceous with a lustrous, smooth surface. The first inflorescences commonly have more than 12 flowers and the ratio of harvestable fruits to flowers is above 75%. The first fruits of‘Shanghai Sweet-Beauty'ripen in early November in Shanghai, 10 to 14 d earlier than‘Akihime'. The duration of harvest is about 6 months. The fruit shape is long roundish conical and cuneate with an average length to width ratio of 2.05. The fruit ripen in the early to midseason and are large (average fruit weight 25.8 g) with a sweet and aromatic flavor. The fruit are well adapted for fresh and processing markets. The plants and fruits are high resistance to powdery mildew [Podosphaera macularis (Wallr.) U. Braun & S. Takam]. It does well near Shanghai and is recommended for trial in other regions with mild winter and spring weather such as south of China and Yangtze River region.